It's that time of year folks! Dare I say it..... Christmas is just around the corner!!!!

Now for some, the shopping has already begun and is in full gear.

For others.. let's just say they are really thinking hard about what to get for the special people in their lives :) ...or maybe there's a bit of procrastination mixed in there! We wanted to help those "struggling" with their shopping list and share some awesome ideas that will be appreciated and received with love!

Stay tuned for all kinds of gift giving goodness that we will be sharing with you :)

See what I did there? Just a little humour for this Saturday morning:)

In honour of 3.14.15 or "National Pi Day" ... I thought I would share one of my favourite things...Pie!

For a little background on Pi...

"Pi Day is an annual celebration commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi). It is observed on March 14 since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three digits of π"

This year adds to the quirky nature of honouring the day.. 3.1415 are the first five digits... therefore 1 and 5 fall perfectly this year as it is 2015! Cool huh!

Back to the good stuff ... Doing what I do as a wedding planner, I'm asked to come up with creative ideas to enhance an event. One of the cool things I've come across (which is also so yummy and delicious) is a Pie bar!

Different images are probably running through your mind... let me show you the possibilities!

From slices to minis, pops to jars, gourmet to traditional, the inspiration is endless. Include this delicious idea as part of your wedding celebrations and it is SURE to be a hit!

Don't you love when you come across a scent that just transports you to a particular time and place?

That happens to me ALL the time! And I LOVE it!

Jasmine in particular!

Ever wonder why this happens?

Research says that we encounter most new smells/scents in our childhood and those "links" in the brain are already in place when we reach adulthood. The emotions and experiences are what our mind reverts to when we come across those scents later in life. It can be anything from the smell of apple pie to the pipe smoke smell from your grandfather's jacket when your were a child.

For me, my trigger is fragrances! I have certain ones on my dresser that are on my dresser because they are reminders of a special experience in my life.

Somedays nostalgia sets in and I go with the flow. Nothing wrong with that!

Ever get goosebumps watching romantic movies where the happy couple dances the night away to some sappy love song? Me too! We would all love our lives to play out to an amazing playlist but sometimes that doesn't always happen. Well at least for your wedding day, it can be!

Since music is like a second language to me, I wanted to share some of my favourite love songs for you and your beloved to dance to on your special day!

If you're more of a modern bride and like to create some of your own traditions, then here is a quick list of some of the most romantic love songs of this generation.

"All Of Me" by John Legend could be the most popular love song of this past year and is a perfect example of his love for his one and only. This song is a pretty straight forward love letter to his wife explaining how love is an 'all or nothing' game. Through the good and the bad, J.L. has made it very clear that you should be in it for the long haul. We all have flaws and we all stumble every once in a while, the key is to find someone who will share those flaws and look at them as perfections instead.

Ms. Christina Perri wrote one of the most beautiful piano ballads of this past year, that makes me cry every time. "A Thousand Years" describes how scary it can be to fall in love, but if you're with the right person it can be the easiest thing you will ever do. Walking down the aisle to this song would be a dream!

"God Gave Me You" by Blake Shelton is also a tear jerk-er as it was made for Mr. Shelton's beautiful fiance at the time, Miranda Lambert. She is actually in the beginning of the music video telling Blake how excited she is to get married to him in just a few hours... talk about adorable! This song is for the country-lovers out there who are eager to walk down the aisle to their best friend, confidante and true love with its beautifully romantic lyrics.

If you're more of a traditional bride and have always had a connection with the classics here are a few suggestions to incorporate the older romantics into your wedding day! A timeless song that is the epitome of finding love is Etta James' "At Last". Mrs. James really knew how to capture the feeling of falling in love in this classic love song and really makes you feel like you're right there with her. Every time you listen to this song it's hard not to picture your loved one and imagine the bright future ahead of you both.

Can't help falling in love? Neither could Elvis! This soulful and delicate love song takes us all back to the first time we looked into your spouse's beautiful eyes and makes us feel all gooey inside. Why not feel that on your wedding day with this classic serenade by Mr. Presley himself.

Another traditional but never over-played song that brings us all back a few years is "L-O-V-E" by the famous Nat King Cole. This song perfectly describes how love puts a little 'pep-in-our-step'. It's hard not to tap your foot to this heart-filled ensemble as everyone around starts to feel the love too.

Whatever your choice of wedding song to dance to, make sure its describes how remarkable your person is to you. Sometimes we aren't so good with words so these songs can help you along with sharing your true commitment and love to your special someone.

So excited to do my first blog of Charlotte's Favourite Things and to share with you some of my *guilty pleasures* when it comes to weddings and events!

This week I'm going to be touching on something I feel most brides struggle with... finding the PERFECT dress for all your beautiful bridesmaids! Yes, you love each and every one of them dearly, but when it comes to planning a wedding, sometimes these lovely friends of yours can get a little picky with the dress you choose for them.

Now it's one thing to look online and see a breath-taking picture of a wedding party who look magnificent all in the same dress... however, did you ever notice that most of these women are all the same size and shape? I don't know about you ladies, but that isn't always the case! So finding the "perfect" dress for all your girls now has just become a little bit harder.

But don't panic! Here is MY favourite thing when it comes to bridesmaids dresses for the modern bride.

"Twist" or "wrap" dresses are the latest fashion for getting the most styles out of one simple purchase! Not only are these amazing twist dresses good for differentiating between bridesmaids without them looking too different but they also are made of a more flexible fabric to help accentuate the best parts of each bridesmaid you have selectively chosen.

With most brides now-a-days, they like the idea of each bridesmaids looking a little different from each other, however, these twist dresses not only do that but they also help each bridesmaid pick what style makes them feel the best in their own skin!

Some girls who are full-figured have a difficult time wearing strapless or shoulder-revealing dresses because they feel like they're always having to pull up "the girls" all night. And vice versa with girls who are on the smaller-chested side, they feel too congested on the top if there are heavy straps or cap-sleeves holding the bust area up.

As you can see ladies, this is a simple solution with these twist dresses as they come in so many different styles that you personalize to each bridesmaid! So you can have one bridesmaid with a two shoulder strap and the other bridesmaid with a strapless top to the exact same dress! How amazing!

Working in Bridal Retail, I have seen so many girls come in and out looking for something that is going to fit and suit every one of their needs, but sometimes it is nearly impossible to make everyone happy. However, I have seen this type of dress go such a long way with a variety of girls (who also LOVE the idea of re-wearing these dresses for another occasion) and I would recommend every bridal party give it a try!